HAGIA SOPHIAThis
massive 6th
century building is the third church
to be built at the same location. The first church was built in 360 AD
but burnt down in
404, during the reign of Constantinus.
The second was erected between the years 404-415, but shared the same
fatal destiny as the first one, burning down during the Nika revolt in
532, during the reign of Justinian.

After these riots, a new structure (the current one standing) was ordered
from two famous architects - Isidorus and Anthemeios. It was completed
and opened to the public on December 26th in 537, on the St. Stephen's
day. However, the dome collapsed twenty years later and it had to be rebuilt
by the nephew of the first architect. He opened up the dome by giving
it 40 windows along its parameter. Although there were partial collapses
of the dome in 989 and 1346, the shape of the dome today remains as it
was then.

It served as a church until the city was conquered by the Ottoman Turks
under the leadership of Mehmet II. Once he took power, he gave the order
to convert the church into a mosque. After this conversion, Islamic additions
were made inside and outside. The minarets, a mihrab, mimber, muezzin's
lodge, sultan's lodge and library are all from this period.

In 1935, twelve years after Turkish Republic had been established, by
the order of Kemal Ataturk it became a museum and remains so today. Aya
Sofya, the Church of Divine Wisdom, stands as one of the landmarks of
the city.